Dems skewer anti-trans sports bill that would allow invasive genital exams: "I'm deeply concerned"https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/dems-skewer-anti-trans-sports-bill-that-would-allow-invasive-genital-exams-im-deeply-concerned/ 🔗John Russell (10 Feb 2026)
Lawmakers in Maryland sparred last week over proposed legislation that would ban transgender girls from competing in girls' sports at the varsity and junior varsity high school levels. During a February 5 hearing on HB 63 before the state General Assembly's Ways and Means Committee, several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed the bill's sponsor, Del. Kathy Szeliga (R), on how the law would be enforced.
In her opening remarks, Szeliga seemed to anticipate that line of questioning.
However, as Del. Joe Vogel (D) noted, the bill currently contains no enforcement language.
Vogel questioned Szeliga about a hypothetical scenario in which a student-athlete's gender might be questioned during a competition. "How is the gender of that student determined to address that dispute?" Vogel asked.
Szeliga responded that coaches would have access to students' medical records, which would determine their eligibility to participate. "So, again, before an athlete can play on a team, they have a physical. It would be handled with the utmost respect and dignity," Szeliga said, despite the fact that HB 63 contains no language about student physical exams or what forms would be required to determine eligibility.
